Relationship of circulating chemerin and omentin levels with Th17 and Th9 cell immune responses in patients with asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Adipokines are correlated with immune responses in asthma, but data on the roles of chemerin and omentin in asthma are limited. This study explored the relationship of chemerin and omentin levels with Th17 and Th9 cells in asthma.

METHODS: Seventy-six asthmatics were divided into intermittent-to-mild persistent (n  =  28), moderate persistent (n  =  26) and severe persistent (n  =  22) and were enrolled in the study. Additionally, 20 healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. Clinical characteristics of the subjects, the Asthma Control Test, lung function, fractional exhaled nitric oxide score, and plasma chemerin and omentin levels were evaluated, and the percentages of Th17 and Th9 cells were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: The percentages of Th17 and Th9 cells were higher in the moderate-to-severe persistent asthmatics than in the intermittent-to-mild persistent asthmatics or healthy controls (p < 0.05). The severe persistent asthma group had a higher chemerin level but lower omentin levels than the control group (p < 0.05). Chemerin levels were positively correlated with Th17 and Th9 cell percentages, while omentin levels were negatively correlated with Th17 and Th9 cell percentages (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: The regulatory functions of adipokines on immune responses may be associated with pathogenesis and processes of asthma.